WWE NXT Recap, Grades, & Opinion: June 26, 2019

WWE NXT Recap: June 26, 2019

A.K.A The One Where Io Sharai Goes Crazy

This episode is jam-packed with action that includes the first match of the NXT Breakout Tournament between Angel Garza and Joaquin Wilde, new Tag Team Champions the Street Profits in non-title action against the Forgotten Sons, Keith Lee in a squash match, and the first ever NXT Women’s Championship Steel Cage match between champion Shayna Baszler and Io Sharai. All of that and more, tonight on WWE NXT.

What a physical contest. As soon as the bell rung these two just went at each other. Shayna Baszler looked especially vicious in the early-going of this match, handing Io Shirai a receipt for her brutal attack at NXT Takeover XXV. After many escape attempts from both competitors, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir came down to help out their fellow Horsewoman.

This brought out Candice LeRae, who cleaned up and took out both Duke and Shafir with a huge dive before Shirai took out Baszler with a massive moonsault off of the top of the steel cage. Shirai fought off Baszler and inched her way out of the cage door but Baszler returned and put her in the Kirifuda Choke right at the exit. When Shirai smashed the door into Baszler’s head to release the submission, the champ fell out through the door, hitting the floor first and retaining her championship.

Three Thoughts:

A New Sensation

In the first match on the NXT Breakout Tournament, Angel Garza defeated Joaquin Wilde tore it up in a match that showed off the future top heel in NXT. Angel Garza showed out big time and while Wilde showed off how good he is, Garza was able to captivate the crowd and exuded this charisma that is rare from a performer. He has the potential to be absolutely massive for the brand and the company and should be a major player moving forward. He was my pick and he is rewarding me handsomely for it. Also, that Avalanche Spanish Fly and Butterfly Stunner combination is one that will close an NXT Takeover. Mark my words.

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Bring The Swag Like Nobody Can?

The Street Profits won by DQ against the Forgotten Sons in a non-title match that became a title match after the Street Profits asked for it prior to the bell ringing. This match and feud was destined to happen after the way that the ladder match at NXT Takeover XXV ended but became interesting after Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch ran in to make the save after the Sons started beating down on the champs. After the save, the duo made their intentions for the tag titles known. It is looking likely that there will be a triple-threat match for the NXT Tag Team Championships at the next Takeover event.

Why Io, Why!?

Io Shirai has had it with everything and everyone. She let that be known when he took a steel chair and blasted Candice LeRae following her loss to Shayna Baszler. Shirai let out her anger and in the process decimated one of NXT’s most beloved faces. It is an interesting turn for her, as she simply wasn’t getting over with the crowd like she should’ve and felt a bit bland. The turn could pay off massively for Shirai, especially if she is able to show tiny shades of a babyface if she wants to continue her feud with Shayna Baszler. I said prior to NXT Takeover XXV that Io wasn’t the babyface to take that title from Baszler. Now it appears she might be the heel that does it.

Grade: B

This was a good episode of NXT. There was some great wrestling, as the first match of the NXT Breakout Tournament and the Steel Cage match delivered in the ring. There was a lot of storyline progression and character development in this episode and while that is great for moving things along, it only made for a slightly above average episode of NXT TV. Io Shirai’s heel turn certainly creates intrigue in the show moving forward, and her feud with Candice LeRae should be fun. This episode left you wanting move and that will never be a bad thing for a wrestling show. Take notes, Vince.

One More Thing:

Killian Dain had a video package done of him watching a clip on a projector and it made him look intimidating. Dain is a huge talent definitely deserves a real look on his own. He was the best part of the Sanity faction and I’m excited to see what his new stint in NXT will bring.

Javier Melo is a writer of Pro Wrestling for Full Press Coverage and an Assistant Sports Editor for the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. Follow Javier @JMeloSports on Twitter.

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